Rwanda has made significant strides in implementing human rights reforms, reporting near-complete adherence to U.N. recommendations, the Ministry of Justice said Wednesday.
The country submitted a detailed report to the United Nations Human Rights Branch on 160 recommendations it agreed to implement out of 260 received in 2021. Justice Minister and Senior Government Representative Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja said nearly 97% of these recommendations have been executed, covering all aspects of national life in line with human rights standards.
Dr. Ugirashebuja presented the report alongside Ambassador Urujeni Bakuramutsa, Rwanda’s representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva; Ivan Murenzi, Director General of the National Institute of Statistics (NISR); and Dr. Doris Uwicyeza, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).
“The report provides a clear picture of Rwanda’s progress and helps measure compliance with U.N. expectations,” Dr. Ugirashebuja said.
Over the past five years, Rwanda has invested heavily in strengthening the justice system. More than 3,000 personnel in security and justice sectors were trained to expedite cases, uphold trial rights, and prevent torture. Additionally, 673 law enforcement officials, including leaders and prosecutors, completed specialized courses. The National Human Rights Commission also conducted inspections in 40 prisons and 103 police cells to ensure proper treatment of detainees.
Rwanda has made notable improvements in public services. The number of services available on the Irembo platform increased from 89 to 220, while citizen satisfaction rose from 76.2% to 89.6% in 2024. Access to electricity reached 84%, including solar and grid power, mobile phone ownership climbed to 86%, and 94% of citizens now have access to clean water.
In healthcare, under-five mortality dropped from 45 per 1,000 in 2020 to 36 per 1,000 in 2025. Hospitals were upgraded to university teaching standards, and a program was launched to quadruple the health workforce. Rwanda also responded swiftly to the Marburg virus outbreak, containing it in a short period.
Education and poverty reduction have also been priorities. Over five years, 20,781 classrooms and 650 new schools were built, including inclusive facilities for students with disabilities. Poverty fell from 39.8% to 27.4%, lifting 1.5 million people out of extreme poverty. Rwanda created more than 900,000 jobs from 2022 to 2025 through programs targeting vulnerable populations.
The report highlights environmental and social initiatives, including over $277 million from the Green Fund to support 64 projects creating more than 100,000 jobs, and the launch of a national carbon market. Rwanda continues to host refugees, including students from Afghanistan and Sudan, and has strengthened national unity while preserving Tutsi Genocide memorials as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Dr. Ugirashebuja said international partners praised Rwanda’s progress while offering recommendations on civil society engagement, media freedom, and transparency. He urged that allegations of rights violations be supported by evidence to enable proper follow-up.
Dr. Uwicyeza emphasized that Rwanda maintains freedom of the press and expression, and no journalist has been imprisoned or prosecuted for their work. The government also revised the law governing non-governmental organizations in 2024 to ensure proper legal compliance.
Rwanda’s human rights review began in 2011, with the 2021 report reflecting the implementation of recommendations over the past five years.
